Our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 transmits or causes disease is limited. The virus is thought to spread through respiratory droplets. Experts from HKUMed studied how SARS-CoV-2 enters the human body, multiplies and attacks the lung cells.
Key takeaways from the study:
- SARS-CoV-2 can infect a healthy person by entering through the eyes and through the lungs.
- SARS-CoV-2 can infect many types of cells in the lungs
- Ciliated cells – cells that can sweep unwanted particles out of our body
- Goblet cells – mucus producing cells
- Club cells – cells that can produce an immune response to protect the lungs
- While both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infect the same types of cells in the lungs, the extent of infection in the respiratory tract was greater with SARS-CoV-2.
- SARS-CoV-2 can spread easily among humans as the virus multiplied rapidly in the lungs compared with SARS-CoV.
- The amount of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs was highest at 96 hours after infection.
- The immune response in the lungs was poorer against SARS-CoV-2 than against H5N1, H1N1 and MERS-CoV.
- SARS-CoV-2 can infect cells in the colon, suggesting that the virus can spread through stool.
This study showed that SARS-CoV-2 can multiply better than any other human coronavirus. As the virus can infect a healthy person through the eyes, it is important to avoid touching the eyes with contaminated hands.
To read the original article published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, click here.
